REVIEW: Chimera

PLOT: Afghanistan veteran Jim Chapel has been enlisted in a new war. This time it's in his own backyard... and even more deadly. A small band of fugitives escapes from a secret upstate New York military facility, leaving a trail of bodies in its wake. Each fugitive has a target—an innocent civilian—and will not stop until that target has been eliminated. Wounded Special Forces veteran Jim Chapel has been stuck behind a desk rather than out in the field, but medical technology has finally caught up with his ambitions. Coupled with his unstoppable determination, it will take him back to where he thrives: the thick of the action. Drafted into a new war, this time in our homeland, Chapel is tasked with hunting a group of escapees from a top secret military compound—all extremely deadly, genetically modified killers—and unraveling the mystery behind their existence. Aided by an enigmatic woman named Angel and a courageous, beautiful veterinarian, Chapel begins a cross-country hunt to stop the murders. But are the killers really rogues, or are they part of a sinister conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels?

REVIEW: I've wanted to read a lot of David Wellington's books for awhile, because he writes about awesome things. He has a series of werewolf books, zombie books, and a larger series of vampire books. Some of his books are actually available online to read as serials, which is really cool of an author to do. It gives someone who is interested in his work, a chance to preview his earlier writing and then go for the big stuff if they like his style. I for one, never got around to reading any of the serials, but rather just hopped into this book. This was recommended to me because of my serious love for Jonathan Maberry's Joe Ledger series, of which I still have one more book left to read. In Wellington's Chimera we're introduced to a war hero that has a lot of the same mental constructs as a Ledger-like character, but not quite the same physical makeup.

What mostly makes Chimera interesting is the fact that our protagonist, Jim Chapel, is a tough as nails combat veteran that is recruited for a top secret mission, but he's at a disadvantage to most. Though, Mr. Chapel would be first to correct me in saying that he's not a disadvantage, he just has a different way of doing things. Chapel is missing an arm that he lost in Afghanistan, but he's been fitted for a high tech artificial limb that has enabled him to get by in the world. It works just like a regular arm, but it's mechanical and relies on his brain to be controlled. This part of Jim Chapel is what draws the desire for the reader to read Chapel's story, because you want this guy to come out on top and win. I thought this was a really cool addition to the story and provided me a reason to really root for Jim. However, his position marks him as the underdog in the story, but he never quite feels like he reaches complete despair in this book like other leading protagonists in similar books.

What I wasn't much of a fan of in this book was the fact that it never seemed like the suspense of the story fully caught on. The Joe Ledger books were a breeze for me, so much so that I was able to finish each of the first four in a week. This book took me a little longer to read, because it just was never able to fully suck me in. There was never any true, all hope is lost, desperation laid upon Jim Chapel even though his mission was top secret and extremely difficult. It just all seemed too easy, and clear cut, and it never quite sucks the reader fully into the book vortex that us readers often find ourselves in. I think shorter stories would benefit Jim Chapel, and David Wellington's writing. I'm looking forward to reading the two that are already out apparently, called Minotaur and Myrmidon.

The suspense was there, but it never fully takes hold in the story which causes a few of the scenes to drag out and take away from the building of tension. The chimeras are a legitimate threat, but they never take shape or become more than a pawn played in a larger game. I think I would have been much happier had there been more of a clear cut villain that actually had some say on the pages. The other thing I didn't much care for was Jim and Julia's extra-curricular activities on more than one occasion throughout the book. I'm not big for scenes of romance in my books, but I could have forgiven these after all was said and done. The scenes sort of felt forced, and it was a good example of how parts of the story took away from the building of suspense. Save it for the end of the book Wellington, because Chapel sure as hell deserved a good night in bed by the end of his mission. I would recommend this to fans of Joe Ledger or any other paranormal hunting military hero. While it doesn't quite present the crispest science fiction thriller, there is plenty of action and a damn fine hero in the making waiting for readers in these pages.

RATED : ( R )

WRITING : ( 7 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVER : ( 6 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 7 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 7 / 10 )

REVIEW: Red Lanterns, Volume One: Blood and Rage

PLOT: Atrocitus and his Red Lantern Corps return in their own series, battling against injustice in the most bloody ways imaginable.

REVIEW: I'm not really the biggest fan of Green Lantern because I didn't grow up enjoying his stories, but I have grown at least a slight bit interested as an adult. Green Lantern is one of the more fun characters, and light hearted, and I think that's why I am not as into him as I am other characters. However, with Red Lanterns, we get the darker side of the Lantern universe and I was really awestruck that this even existed. Atrocitus is the leader of the Red Lanterns, and it's his rage that is his power. The bad things that have happened to him in the past, drive who he is today as the Red Lantern leader. Though he is the leader of the Red Lanterns, he finds that even he is not enough to conquer the rage on his own. He slowly brings other Red Lanterns into the picture by throwing them into a Blood Ocean to confront their reasons for rage. As they come out, Atrocitus finds that rage comes in more than one form, and it's that discovery that leads him into a situation he never had seen coming. This book is awesome, and I was really so happy to be reading a book that was based off of a main DC character, but spun off to be a darker side. There is plenty of red on every page, as the rage is basically characterized as red blood and spews from the Lanterns and congeals as if it were in space. There was plenty of gruesome illustrations which I really enjoyed, as usual, because I'm a fan of horror. The writing was pretty good, and I liked the story of Atrocitus and I enjoyed how one of the book's minor villains came about. Peter Milligan impresses with the first volume of Red Lanterns, and I'm excited to see where it's taken. There is really a bright future for this title, even though it may be bright red.

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 10 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Law of the Desert Born: A Graphic Novel

PLOT: The first graphic novel adaptation of the work of master storyteller Louis L’Amour is a dynamic tale of the Old West that explores the borderlands of loyalty and betrayal with the emotional grittiness of a noir thriller. New Mexico, 1887, a land in the midst of the worst drought anyone can remember. Family histories and loyalties run deep, but when rancher Tom Forrester has his access to the Pecos River cut off by the son of his old partner, he convinces his foreman, Shad Marone, to pay Jud Bowman back for the discourtesy. Yet what starts as a simple act of petty revenge quickly spirals into a cycle of violence that no one can control. Now Marone is on the run, pursued by a sheriff’s posse across a rugged desert landscape. Leading the chase is Jesus Lopez, a half-Mexican, half-Apache with a personal stake in bringing Shad to justice. Newly released from jail, trusted by no one, Lopez swears he’s the only man who can track Marone down. That may be true. But who will live and who will die and what price will be paid in suffering are open questions. Fate and the Jornada del Muerto desert possess a harsh justice that is all their own. With a propulsive script from Beau L’Amour and Kathy Nolan, adapted by Charles Santino and illustrated in bold black-and-white by Thomas Yeates, LAW OF THE DESERT BORN captures the dust and blood of Louis L’Amour’s West—a world where the difference between a hero and a villain can be as wide as the gap between an act of kindness or brutality or as narrow as a misspoken word.

REVIEW: ***I received a copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for a fair and honest review.*** 

Louis L'Amour is without a doubt, the definitive author for western fiction. His list of works is nearly endless, and there's a reason that most western fiction collections you see in libraries or bookstores are predominately consisted of L'Amour titles. When I saw that a graphic novel had been adapted from one of his stories, I found it kind of strange but interesting as well. It's not the kind of story that a typical graphic novel reader would pick up and read, but more and more we are finding that some of the timeless fictional stories are being converted into graphic novel form for fans old and new to enjoy.

I would like to start by saying I'm not a huge fan of western fiction in any of its forms, but recently I have started to have an appreciation for newer western films that stick to classic western styles. This is the first time I've ever read anything western, and I think this was a good way to start. Lopez is a great character, and his story told throughout the book is the driving force behind its greatness. His association with other characters in the book makes him the main protagonist, in my eyes, and it causes you to look at everyone else with a careful eye because of Lopez's apparent wisdom. He seems to know more than the rest of the characters in the book, which in turns exudes confident and wholesome qualities about a character that maybe 40 years ago would have been the one to have watched with a careful eye.

The story is superbly crafted, told in "present day" with flashbacks scattered throughout. On the first read through, I found it kind of complicated with the flashbacks mixed in throughout. Part of me wishes the story could have been more linear, but it may have taken away from the final impact of the story. I think I would have been able to follow the plot better had it been straight through the first time around, but the use of these flashbacks helps to further the emotional impact of the story and delay the final punch until the end of the book. I think a little more background on Marone before the chase begins would have been neat, but it wasn't necessary in telling this story.

The thing I liked most about this book is the art. Usually, black and white illustration in graphic novels is not my favorite, but there are stories that should only be told in black and white. This is one of those stories, being that it takes place in a western setting and most stories like this told in film were during the black and white era of motion pictures. Westerns are no longer, and haven't been for awhile, the most popular genre of film, but it only seems appropriate to tell a story like this in shades of gray. The shading and the art on each page was breathtaking, and I haven't been this impressed with black and white in a long time. It suits the book really well. The only problem I had here is that sometimes it was hard to tell which character was which on the page, or who was on the page to begin with. When everyone and their father wears cowboys hats, has a horse, and wears the same style clothes, it's hard to tell who is who.

Other than the few minor annoyances, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to mostly adult graphic novel readers. The combination of character illustration issues, and the flashbacks threw me for a loop at first, but with a more studious second read I found it to be a quality graphic novel. I would especially recommend this to an older crowd, as I've already passed this along to older family members who are fans of the western genre. I would definitely be interested to see if more of L'Amour's work shows up in graphic novel form, and I'd hope that the illustrative duties would be taken care of just as perfectly as they were here. The book is hefty, and while large, it enables the art more room to pop off the page and display Thomas Yeates excellent black and white illustrations. A lot of credit goes to the team that brought this book to life for a new generation, and possibly a younger audience.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 10 / 10 )

STORY : ( 7 / 10 )

COVER : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 5 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 7 / 10 )

REVIEW: The Fearless Defenders, Volume One: Doom Maidens

PLOT: New team! New villains! New creators! Valkyrie and Misty Knight are the Fearless Defenders, and not since Power Man and Iron Fist has an unlikely duo kicked this much - well, you know.

REVIEW: In preparing to write a review for this book, I have discovered that this title has since been cancelled by Marvel and will end with the twelfth issue. What the hell are you guys thinking?! This is easily one of the best titles that I've read out of Marvel NOW!, most of which are pretty awful, and this is the one that's been cancelled over multiple other offenders? I'm really sad to say that Marvel doesn't quite know what quality is, because when I read the other more "popular" titles, I can't believe they're even being written. Captain America and Deadpool are about the only two characters that haven't been ultimately ruined by Marvel NOW!, and it's a shame to see that this third candidate for greatness will be no more. I am not familiar with these characters, so that may be why I was so pleased, but I thought the book was awesome. Valkyrie and Misty Knight are cool heroines which Marvel has so few of, and this book is not afraid of anything. There's a decapitation, lots of censored curses, and chicks kicking the living crap out of everything that threatens them. I liked seeing the assembly of a lot of the female characters in the Marvel Universe, and it's a damn shame to see a title that showcases these heroines in such a bad ass light, be shut down. I would say if you're a fan of the darker side of Marvel, and the more Asgardian-like characters and stories, this is definitely for you. Fans of female-centric comics will also really enjoy this, as I barely remember a dude in the book at all. I'm also starting to discover that I have very heavy metal tastes, because if the book has blood, magic, and epic wars with warriors in elaborate armor illustrated on the page, I'm automatically sucked in. Also, the covers are freaking awesome as hell.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 7 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 10 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: The New Deadwardians

PLOT: In post-Victorian England, nearly everyone of the upper classes has voluntarily become a vampire in order to escape the lower classes who are all zombies. Into this simmering cauldron is thrust Chief Inspector George Suttle, a lonely detective who's got the slowest beat in London: investigating murders in a world where everyone is already dead! When the body of a young aristocrat washes up on the banks of the Thames, Suttle's quest for the truth will take him from the darkest sewers to the gleaming halls of power, and reveal the rotten heart at the center of this strange world.

REVIEW: Anything British is usually not my cup of tea, but I wanted to read this because of the involvement of zombies, obviously. I wasn't expecting to love the story, but I figured that I would at least enjoy the undead aspects of the story. What I got was a very well-rounded tale of Chief Inspector George Suttle, who is one of the young, which most of us would call a vampire. He sets upon a case to solve the murder of a well off man in the new Deadwardian Age, and in doing so begins the investigation into his own life after spending countless years losing any desire to do so. What this graphic novel does really well is support its protagonist Suttle, as his story is told through narration of his own and then the events that take place in his surroundings. Funny enough that it was the love story aspect of this book that I took a liking to, as usually that's something that when included in a story of horror or undeath, I do not find suiting. But for this story, it was perfectly aligned with Suttle's investigation into a murder, as well as his own existence. The art is not exactly phenomenal in this book, as I've seen some others point out in their own reviews, but it does a good enough job to help the story along. It's not the most detailed work, but it is all there, and the zombies and vampires all have their particular looks. I would most definitely say that if you are a fan of British mystery, the undead, and adult graphic novels, you should pick up this book. Even if British oriented stories aren't your thing, this may be worth checking out, as I found it entirely enjoyable and I'm hoping that Dan Abnett has an opportunity to continue the splendid story of George Suttle, the Young who renews his desire for life and happiness in solving Scotland Yard's new kind of crime.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 5 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 7 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 7 / 10 )

REVIEW: Deadpool, Volume Two: Soul Hunter

PLOT: First: Flash back to Deadpool’s adventures of yesteryear with Iron Man! Then: A demon hires Deadpool to reclaim damned souls! And just in case you didn’t think he could get any stranger, Wade gets in touch with his feminine side! Plus: Deadpool targets a man with aquatic powers, and then teams up with your Superior Neighborhood Spider-Man! And we promise he kills one of those two! Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn’s hilarious, nonstop reinvention of the Merc With a Mouth continues here!

REVIEW: Even though I knew what to expect from Marvel NOW!'s Deadpool, I was still extremely impressed with this volume and completely blown away by how great it is. Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan have easily written what is the best title I've read from the Marvel NOW! series. While that isn't a huge compliment in itself, because I don't like much of the Marvel NOW! titles, Deadpool is lightyears beyond the others and has proven yet again why that is so. Brian Posehn's sense of humor is almost entirely too perfect for the character of Deadpool and it makes this comic one of the most fun to read in quite some time. Who would have thought that after filling the first volume with dead presidents for Deadpool to hunt down, there would be just as much fun to be had in a second volume. There isn't a single comic out there that I enjoy picking up and reading more than Deadpool. The first issue that puts Deadpool in a story that takes place during the 80's with Tony Stark was one of the funniest things I've ever read in comics. Of course that humor and entertainment extends into the other issues of this book and makes for such a blast of a read. The art is great, the writing is great, and the jokes in the book are just so funny. I know that the writing is superb because rarely does a book with so much writing on the page keep my attention, but this one had me flipping the pages as quickly as I could. This is a must read for fans of Mr. Pool, the Marvel Universe through adult eyes, and comedy in general. Please pick this up and support Duggan and Posehn's tremendous work on Deadpool.

WRITING : ( 10 / 10 )
ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )
STORY : ( 10 / 10 )
COVERS : ( 10 / 10 )
AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )
FINAL RATING : ( 10 / 10 )

REVIEW: Young Avengers, Volume One: Style > Substance

PLOT: Legacy isn't a dirty word...but it's an irrelevant one. It's not important what our parents did. It matters what WE do. Someone has to save the world. You're someone. Do the math. The critically acclaimed team of Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie reinvent the teen super hero comic for the 21st century, uniting Wiccan, Hulkling and Kate "Hawkeye" Bishop with Kid Loki, Marvel Boy and Ms. America. No pressure, right? As a figure from Loki's past emerges, Wiccan makes a horrible mistake that comes back to bite everyone on their communal posteriors. Fight scenes! Fake IDs! And plentiful feels! (aka "meaningful emotional character beats" for people who aren't on tumblr.) Young Avengers is as NOW! as the air in your lungs, and twice as vital. Hyperbole is the BEST! THING! EVER!

REVIEW: Yet another Marvel NOW! title that I just don't understand. I suppose that Young Avengers is supposed to rock with a younger crowd, and probably appeals to teenage kids looking for a comic book that they can relate to their lives. There's a lot about this story that I just didn't find appealing to myself, and I am pretty open to anything but a lot of this felt forced for the ability to be marketed at a younger audience. First of all, the gay relationship presented from the beginning with Wiccan and Hulkling I just didn't get. It felt so forced to pair these two together, and really just to use as a marketing tool to appeal to comic readers of a younger age in high school. I know that writers have been trying to be inclusive in comics as of late, and I applaud them for that but I really don't feel like it was necessary in this story. I didn't think they were a good couple, nor was I invested in either character because all you know about them was that they were gay. There needed to be more of a set up as to who these two characters were, and what drew them together in the first place. It just starts out with "hey our comic book has two heroes in the Young Avengers that are gay! Look at us, we're all inclusive!" I know it sounds like I was offended, but really I would have been fine with it had there been more development leading up to why they were a couple, which would make it seem like less of a gimmick. Also, the other characters were pretty minimal in comparison, which compounded the problem. The only character I truly enjoyed was Kid Loki and that was because he had a sense of humor and he obviously plays off of the already known grown up characters of Thor and Loki. The villains were kind of neat, but I'm still kind of unsure what to make of the whole story because really the biggest plot of this whole book was the relationship between Wiccan and Hulkling. I think they could have spent a lot more time on other characters developing them just as much as the other two, and maybe it would have felt like there was an entire team in this book. The title was appropriate though I suppose, because substance took a backseat to style in this one. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but I really didn't see too much in this book that appealed to me and made me want to read more.

WRITING : ( 7 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 4 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 5 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 5 / 10 )

REVIEW: Talon, Volume One: Scourge of the Owls

PLOT: As a young performer with Haly's Circus, young Calvin Rose was secretly being raised to be a master assassin--a killing machine called a Talon. The Talons have always served the mysterious Court of Owls, a group of wealthy individuals who will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on power in Gotham City. When Rose defects from the Talon's ranks, he is marked for death and spends the next few years using all his training to hide from his former masters. After years on the run, Rose finally returns to Gotham City following the horrors of "The Night of Owls." He'll set off to investigate what remains of the Court of Owls, but will he be able to gain his freedom at long last?

REVIEW: Scott Snyder has proven at this point that not only is he a great writer for Batman, but he is also a great writer of comics in general with a title like Swamp Thing as evidence. I mostly picked up this volume of Talon because I know that Snyder is a quality talent, but also because it's Gotham oriented and I can't turn down anything Batman. This book plucks a character from Batman's Court of Owls storyline Calvin Rose, and follows him as he seeks revenge on his former group of Owls when he realizes that Gotham may have been emptied of his personal demons. The main reason I like this book so much is that it's dark, which is something that Scott Snyder has rarely shied away from in his writing. He is able to take such a comical world and turn it into something darker and deeper than it ever has before. It's one main reason that the New 52 Batman is so great and has become a new standard for the Batman comic books. Calvin Rose is a Talon of the Court of Owls, which if you aren't familiar with, may require some reading of Snyder's Batman to get an introduction to. The evils that the Court of Owls is capable of committing are atrocious and really personify a villain that can strike the fear into characters in a book, as well as the reader at home. Talon yet again proves that Snyder is a mainstay in current comic writing, and can do much more than just Batman, even though this predominately takes place in Gotham City. This is much recommended to fans of the New 52, Batman in general, and possibly Pink Floyd's The Wall because the Owl masks are just too reminiscent of it to ignore.

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Steelheart

PLOT: There are no heroes. Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. Nobody fights the Epics... nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them. And David wants in. He wants Steelheart—the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father. For years, like the Reckoners, David's been studying, and planning—and he has something they need. Not an object, but an experience. He's seen Steelheart bleed. And he wants revenge.

REVIEW: This being the first time I've ever read any of Brandon Sanderson's work, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I've heard that he's an excellent writer but most of that applies to his fantasy fiction, which isn't something I have found myself inclined to reading just yet. Nor was this an account of the short lived 1990's hair metal band of the same name, but I'm sure if Sanderson had written it, it would have been entertaining as well. This however, was about superheroes and of course that's right up my alley. From the very first page, Sanderson hooks you into the story of David. It jumps right into the story of how David lost his father to the Epic Steelheart, and how he knows now in the present that he will be the end to Steelheart's reign. In this world, Epics are the super-powered people who seemingly gained their abilities overnight, and not one of them used their powers for good. Stories like this, as we know them, usually have superheroes on one side and villains on the other but this one is different. This time humans have basically been subjected to the rule of Epics, Steelheart in particular, at least in Chicago, and it's basically against the law to stand up against them. After the introduction into David's life and his story of where he's come from, we're placed into the now steel covered city of Chicago, renamed Newcago. It's a new time and the world is nowhere near the same as it was when Epics didn't rule the Earth, and David plans to change that.

David admires a group of human rebels called the Reckoners as he tracks Epics on his own and tries to find himself in the right place at the right time with Epics or Reckoners. Early on he finds himself in the middle of a battle with one of the high Epics and the Reckoners, and decides that this may be his only opportunity to join in fighting the good fight. He's greeted with resistance as the Reckoners take him into custody, but as David releases more and more of his insider information on the Epics and Reckoners themselves they become more willing to allow him in assisting in their battle. Once David's story is retold to the leader of the Reckoners, they decide that teaming together to defeat the evil Epic Steelheart should be their next venture, but together. The Reckoners more or less disagree with the aggressive plan hatched to defeat Steelheart because it places them in David's hands mostly, and in danger. David wants to do anything he can and gather all the resources he can to bring Steelheart down, because he's seen him bleed, but he knows that the task could be impossible. Really I was super impressed with Brandon Sanderson's writing and how absorbed I was into this story. You wait for an ending that will be good, but the one that's given is great and I didn't see it coming at all. The ending completely sold me on this book, as I knew it was great fiction as I was reading but it wasn't yet that truly outstanding work until I hit the last 20-25 pages. Sanderson knew exactly what he was writing about when it came to super people and superhuman powers, but he added some of his fantasy elements and storytelling experience to the book and it made for all that much greater of a climax and conclusion. I can't wait for the rest of this series, and I would highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of superhero stories and/or comic books. This is also one of the first young adult fiction books that I've read that I didn't completely hate, so kudos to Sanderson. I will now have to journey into some of his other works because his writing is definitely amazing.

RATED : ( PG-13 )

WRITING : ( 10 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVER : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 10 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Nova, Volume One: Origin

PLOT: Sam Alexander is a kid bound by the gravity of a small town and a father whose ridiculous, drunken fairy tales about a "Nova Corps" were just another heavy burden. But luckily for Sam Alexander...soon gravity won't even matter. And those troubles are a billion miles away. It's a boy, a helmet, and an intergalactic legacy! Then: it's Sam Alexander's training day. And with the Guardians of the Galaxy's Gamora and Rocket Raccoon in charge, Nova soon learns that practice makes painful! Plus, the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of Sam's dad deepen...and the helmet leads Nova into intergalactic conflict that will affect the entire Marvel Universe!

REVIEW: Before this book, I had never read anything about or involving the character Nova. This book gives a great introduction into the original Nova and then follows with the story of the new Nova for Marvel NOW! I really like how accessible this character is even after the first issue contained in this volume. This was also an introduction to the Guardians of the Galaxy for me, which was nice to see previous to the Guardians of the Galaxy film coming out soon from Marvel. Rocket Raccoon was actually a really funny character, and also pretty tough, which was just cool to see in a comic book of this quality. I think Jeph Loeb having written this title is probably a pretty big reason as to why it is so good, because he's a pretty well-proven writer for comics at this point. The art is also great, and overall this volume of Nova is really impressive for a Marvel NOW! title. Easily one of the best of the NOW! initiative, Nova sets out to the stars and beyond for fans of Marvel. I'm not even that big on Marvel comics ever taking place in space, but this one had it all going right.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )
ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )
STORY : ( 9 / 10 )
COVERS : ( 5 / 10 )
AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )
FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Shadowman, Volume One: Birth Rites

PLOT: There's a million dreams in the Big Easy. But now its worst nightmare is about to come true. As the forces of darkness prepare to claim New Orleans as their own, Jack Boniface must embrace the legacy he was born to uphold. As Shadowman, Jack is about to become the only thing that stands between his city and an army of unspeakable monstrosities from beyond the night. But is the mantle of Shadowman a blessing, or a curse? And what is the true cost of his otherworldly power?

REVIEW: I have been a huge fan of all the Valiant titles thus far that I've read, and I didn't expect anything different from this. Shadowman proves to be the darkest title that I've read from this line so far, and that's saying something considering the titles that surround it. Bloodshot has consistently been a very dark title since the beginning, but even this shows that Valiant can get even darker that it already has. The story is actually very great too, finding Jack Boniface searching for answers about his past, his family, and his new life. The power of Shadowman is only tapped on in this volume, as it serves mostly as an introduction, but it seems that the threats he could face soon will be near apocalyptic. The villain is Darque, and he only appears for a few frames but will be the big challenge that Jack will face in the next volume. I really enjoyed this story, and it's really easy to hop right into. Also, the art is beautiful yet haunting, with the main villain Mr. Twist of this book being consisted of sacrificed flesh. His powers seem to be to take control of anyone he can get his flesh into, but I'm sure there is more to be discovered as he turns out to be a part of a bigger plan. I also like the monkey that resides in Darkside, which is where Shadowman and others draw their powers from. In the end, this is another brilliant entry into the Valiant line and you can consider me a fan of the Shadowman. Must read for fans of Valiant, and darker comics, this is the original kind of work us graphic novel readers are looking for.

WRITING : ( 9 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 10 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe

PLOT: What if everything you thought was funny about Deadpool was actually just disturbing? What if he decided to kill everyone and everything that makes up the Marvel Universe? What if he actually pulled it off? Would that be FUN for you? The Merc with a Mouth takes a turn for the twisted in a horror comic like no other!

REVIEW: I have already read Deadpool Killustrated which was a spin off from this book, and Deadpool has taken it upon himself to destroy everything around him. Deadpool has been convinced that everything in the Marvel universe deserves to die, so it is now the beginning of the end for Deadpool. Realizing that he's just a character, he wants to take it out on all the rest of them and become to lone survivor. What is really fun about these Deadpool books is that they are very self aware in the sense that he knows he's in a comic book. It makes it really fun to read a character that is pretty much there just to entertain you, whether it's in the book or outside of it. It's only once in a lifetime that you get to see Deadpool just kill every single one of the characters you grew up with and read in Marvel, including one particularly fantastic frame of him blowing Spider-Man's brains out with a pistol. It's things like this that you know that are one of a kind, that are really great. I especially like when Marvel tackles more adult themes or stories, because they usually end up being a lot better than usual. This is a must read for Deadpool fans and anybody looking for an entertaining, but violent comic book read.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 7 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: All New X-Men, Volume Two: Here to Stay

PLOT: Yesterday's X-Men continue to adjust to a present day that's simultaneously more awe-inspiring and more disturbing than any future the young heroes had ever imagined for themselves. And things get even more dangerous when the shape-changing terrorist Mystique targets our young time-travelers...starting with Cyclops!

REVIEW: To start, I wasn't a huge fan of All New X-Men, Volume One: Yesterday's X-Men but it did leave some things open to get better in this second volume. Things definitely got better, but actually got really great and I really enjoyed this volume. The first volume was more of a set up for this one, as the X-Men from the past are still struggling in finding out what they've become in the present time. Most importantly, Scott Summers has seen where his life has gone and it's all too frightening a truth for him to take. He takes an approach to it, and vows to not be the same Scott Summers and do whatever he can to change it, but that's the typical Summers agenda when problems arise. It's really interesting to see these characters struggle with themselves in the past, when they've seen what they become in the future. There is a tie-in as well with the Uncanny X-Men cast, and I thought that was pretty cool just having read that. My review of the first volume was a considerable bashing, because I've been fed up with X-Men comics for the past year or so. They all seem so similar, and it seemed to me that this Marvel NOW! title was headed in the same direction. However, it has turned around in this second volume and I'd highly recommend All New X-Men to Marvel NOW! readers. It's definitely in the top three in the reboot, and I take back what I said about Brian Michael Bendis last volume. This guy is a mainstay in writing the Marvel universe, and he writes teams really well.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Uncanny X-Men, Volume One: Revolution

PLOT: In the wake of the Phoenix event, the world has changed and is torn on exactly what Cyclops and his team of outlaw X-Men are - visionary revolutionaries or dangerous terrorists? Whatever the truth, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magneto, and Magik are out in the world gathering new mutants and redefining the name Uncanny X-Men. But the challenges that they must overcome are fierce: once again, robotic Sentinels hunt the team and the mutants they protect...but when you find out who's doing the hunting, your jaw will drop! And if that's not enough, there's a mole on Cyclops' team - but who is it?

REVIEW: I really haven't had the greatest luck with the X-Men in comic book form. I did enjoy the Ultimate X-Men series for the most part, but other than that they've all been pretty lame to me. This volume didn't start out too great at first, because it was kind of a similar story that's been told before with the X-Men. The mutants being disliked by humans, and an all out war on the brink as Cyclops and his team try to fight the good fight. What it turns into though is that you're really unsure of Scott Summers' condition to lead a team of heroes because of information Magneto leaks to S.H.I.E.L.D. I surprisingly ended up really liking this volume and I think it was to do with the excellent writing from Brian Michael Bendis who always seems to do a very nice job of handling multiple characters without losing himself in the story. Often times, group comics tend to be a handful with all of the characters, but Bendis takes a few familiars and throws in a couple newbies and you've got a whole new team that's easy to follow, and each has their own personality and traits. I really like this Uncanny X-Men team and I hope it continues on the path that it has built in the first volume. The art is great, and I really like the way they make Cyclops look with the dark reds and X-visor with his costume because it gives him that evil aura. It does cause some confusion as to who to root for, but it does provide for some great super hero drama and this volume of Uncanny X-Men is not short on that. This is easily one of the better Marvel NOW! entries, and I hope that it can continue to be so.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Uncanny Avengers, Volume One: The Red Shadow

PLOT: The Marvel Universe's greatest era starts NOW!, as the all-new, all-different Avengers assemble! Captain America creates a sanctioned Avengers unit comprised of Avengers and X-Men, humans and mutants working together...so why is Professor Xavier's dream more at risk than ever? The Red Skull has returned - straight out of the 1940s and full of hatred - and his rebirth will alter the Marvel Universe forever! What are the Skull's new powers? Can Havok and Thor defeat the spreading influence of Honest John, The Living Propaganda? As Rogue and Scarlet Witch find themselves trapped on the Isle of the Red Skull's S-Men, Wolverine and Captain America investigate the worldwide mutant assassination epidemic! Uncanny Avengers Assemble! Plus: from the ashes of AvX, the funeral of one of Marvel's greatest heroes! 

REVIEW: I have yet to read the Avengers vs. X-Men event in Marvel comics because I own it and can take my time, but apparently this volume deals heavily with those events. I was able to get into the story for the most part though. I'm starting to sort of get sick of these Marvel NOW! titles claiming to be something new and bold in the Marvel universe, but most of it strikes me as the same old stuff. This volume of Uncanny Avengers focuses on the return of Red Skull in modern times, and he has taken control of Charles Xavier's brain after his death. He is using it to control the population and even minds of the mutants to do his bidding, but also is blackmailing hero teams to do the very same. I like the Red Skull as a villain, and I think he is very terrifying but at the same time. However, this book does little to nothing to differentiate itself from the multiple Avengers and X-Men books that are out right now. What Marvel NOW! has failed to do with their titles is create a clear and concise story for each character or character group, and suck the reader in to the new Marvel NOW! titles. Uncanny Avengers definitely wasn't the worst that I've read from the reboot series, but it definitely did little to impress me. It does leave off with a good scene that will hopefully carry into the next volume and propel it to higher levels. Unfortunately though, I find myself hoping for this with a lot of the current Marvel NOW! titles. I got a great kick out of the Deadpool variant at the end of the book.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 7 / 10 )

STORY : ( 6 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 8 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 5 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 6 / 10 )

REVIEW: The Superior Spider-Man, Volume One: My Own Worst Enemy

PLOT: Peter Parker spent a lifetime living up to the responsibilities his powers foisted upon him, but his story finally ended dramatically in the historic Amazing Spider-Man #700. NOW!...The new Amazing Spider-Man has arrived, and he is better in every single way. Smarter, stronger... Superior. And he'll prove it, both to himself and the world, when he faces down the all-new Sinister Six! But is this all-new Spider-Man in cahoots with J. Jonah Jameson? And has Carlie Cooper figured out the Superior Spider-Man's secret identity? Plus: Spider-Man and Mary Jane...reunited?! All this and the return of the villainous Vulture!

REVIEW: This is a Spider-Man series that requires a little bit of prior knowledge in the way of having read Spider-Man: Dying Wish to know what The Superior Spider-Man is all about. For those who haven't read it, and those who do not wish to know the spoiler that makes this comic possible, this is your chance to turn around. In Spider-Man: Dying Wish Doc Ock is Spidey's villain, and has come up with the ultimate plan to finally defeat his nemesis. Through the miraculous ways of science, Doc Ock is able to switch minds with Peter Parker, and thus switch their roles in this long going comic. In The Superior Spider-Man, Doc Ock is now Peter Parker and/or Spider-Man and he has vowed to do things different. Forever known to mock Peter's way of taking care of business, Doc Ock knows that his outlook on fighting crime is a little different. He has turned a new page and now wants to live as the Spider-Man but as time goes on, he begins to realize that he will never be Peter unless he fully commits himself to this change. Now all of Doctor Octopus' brilliant work in the fields of science and Spider-Man are credited to Peter Parker and not himself. Really, this series was an outstanding idea from author Dan Slott and gives the series a new look and feel, while still keeping in tact the characters and stories previously woven. I love that Spider-Man is now seemingly ruthless, but even when Doc's evil tendencies attempt to surface, Peter Parker in spirit form is able to keep most of his legacy the same. I really like how Doc Ock uses the powers of Spider-Man for his version of good, which could be considered vengeance, which also gives this series a darker edge. If you're looking for a great new Spidey comic, this is it folks. The Superior Spider-Man is one of the best original twists on a popular character that I've seen, and it provides for some truly entertaining and new adventures with our favorite webslinger.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 9 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: Cable and X-Force, Volume One: Wanted

PLOT: Cable is back! NOW!, with a new X-Force at his side, he must tackle the threats that nobody else can know about - even if it makes him and his team public enemy number one. Just who are Cable's new recruits? Where has Colossus been post-AV X, and what is wrong with his powers? And most importantly, why are Cable and his team attacking a civilian company? Caught red-handed at the scene of a terrorist attack on a major American corporation whose CEO has expressed anti-mutant views, the X-Force find themselves branded criminals and on the run...with none other than the Uncanny Avengers in hot pursuit. There's no going back from here... 

REVIEW: This graphic novel was really poorly written. I could not for the life of me focus on the story and try to wrap my head around what was going on. I could only tell the basics from location and such, but the dialogue and interactions between characters didn't add much to the storytelling process. It was really a bummer to read this because the art was fantastic and of course it's supposed to be more of a darker Marvel tale being that it deals with Cable and a couple of the other darker characters. I really liked what was trying to be done, but somewhere along the lines the story was just lost to poor writing. I have read Dennis Hopeless before and it wasn't terrible so I know better is possible. This book needs a clear story to go through, and the first few issues do a really poor job of introducing the characters and the plot. The last issue was good and I think may be the turning point for this set of heroes and begin a new mission that some of us who are unfamiliar with most of these characters can grab on to. I have hopes that this series could turn around, but so far I wasn't impressed with anything but the art.

WRITING : ( 5 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 5 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 6 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 5 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 5 / 10 )

REVIEW: Thor: God of Thunder, Volume One: The God Butcher

PLOT: Throughout the ages, gods have been vanishing, their mortal worshippers left in chaos. Now, Thor follows a trail of blood that threatens to consume his past, present and future. The only hope for these ravaged worlds is for Thor to unravel the gruesome mystery of the God Butcher! In the distant past, Thor follows the bloody wake of murdered gods across the depths of space. In the present, the Thunder God discovers a forgotten cave that echoes with the cries of tortured gods...and is shocked to find himself among them! And thousands of years from now, the last god-king of a ruined Asgard makes his final stand against the God Butcher's beserker legions. As three Thors from three eras race to stop the God Butcher, the full extent of his vicious scheme takes terrifying shape!

REVIEW: I wouldn't go as far as considering myself a big fan of Thor, but I did really like the film Thor that came out as part of Marvel's Phase One. I wasn't extremely excited to see the film even though I knew that it had to be good because Marvel has done an extraordinary job with re-branding themselves in terms of film, and it was even better than good and may be my favorite other than Iron Man. This book, is the first book of the Marvel NOW! series now called Thor: God of Thunder and I have to say I was extremely surprised with how great it was. It opens with a spectacular first issue showing the many sides of Thor. An avenger, and a man of the people, the godliness of this character is shown in many different lights. I loved the way that the author is so easily able to blend the darkness and haunting story of Thor and The God Butcher, with Thor's recently unraveled sense of humor. The film showcased Thor's immense misunderstanding of the different world around him, where this book shows his simplest desires in the places he calls home. There are quite a few good jokes about Thor's habitual drinking, and I think it humanizes an otherwise unrelatable character. The God Butcher is a great villain, and flashes of Voldemort from the Harry Potter series shows in his look and his words. The writing is also phenomenal in telling three separate stories of Thor but keeping them entangled together to tell an even grander story of one of Thor's most dangerous enemies. I have to say that this may easily be the best Marvel NOW! title I've read, and again I'm shocked at the titles that this NOW! initiative has gotten right, over the ones that they've completely butchered, in my opinion. This is a must read for Marvel fans, Thor fans, and fans of the film.

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

ARTWORK : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 9 / 10 )

COVERS : ( 7 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )

REVIEW: 14

PLOT: Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches. There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything.

REVIEW: I picked up this book because the description sounded very entertaining, and it seemed extremely neat because all of the reviews on the book comparing it to one of my favorite TV shows, Lost. After reading it, I can see why the comparisons were drawn to the hit television show but at the same time, it really isn't that much like it at all in my eyes. I particularly like the quote inside the cover from the star of Castle, Nathan Fillion, that says something about geek jizzing in the book. It is a really great story, and it's really entertaining but the quotes on the book may exaggerate just a little bit. After reading about halfway through this book, I realized it was written by Peter Clines. While it was probably unusually late for me to be looking to see who the author was, I discovered that Clines was the one who wrote the Ex-Heroes and Ex-Patriots books that I read earlier this year. What has now turned into a full-fledged series for Clines with the heroes and zombies books, looks like a successful adventure into his own science fiction series. This is great too, because Peter Clines is a fantastic author with really great ideas and after 14 I'm really looking forward to more from him.

With 14, Clines takes an incredibly ordinary setting and group of characters into an adventure that is as wild as anything he's ever written. For sake of spoilers and mystery, I don't really want to give too much away but I really like the connections that this book drew with real life and real, once living, people. The science part of this fiction is really intense, and I guess in a way one could accurately describe 14 as "Lost in an apartment building" but it never quite earned that comparison from me. The main character Nate is really likable in the sense that his life is somewhat easy to understand, at least for the common man, as he's stuck in a seemingly dead end job with nowhere to go but down. It's these characters that are all in some sort of despair that seems unlikely to be conquered, but yet when they band together as a group and become something more than their individual selves, they find their purpose. Not only do they find their purpose together as a group, but as individuals after this wild ride through The Kavach Building and its unique apartment rooms to rent. By the time things start to go down, there's so much mystery surrounding the building that even though you may have a theory, deep down you know it probably won't even come close. This was a great book, a great mystery, and a definitely awesome sci-fi read.

RATED : ( R )

WRITING : ( 8 / 10 )

STORY : ( 8 / 10 )

COVER : ( 6 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 8 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 8 / 10 )

REVIEW: Don Jon

PLOT: A New Jersey guy dedicated to his family, friends, and church, develops unrealistic expectations from watching porn and works to find happiness and intimacy with his potential true love.

REVIEW: I've been looking forward to Don Jon for quite some time now, and now it is finally here. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (from here on out referred to as JGL) is a talent of the times right now, as he is seemingly becoming more popular each and every year. Still being on his youthful side, he's still able to draw in new audience young and old. This movie however, deals with a lot of adult subjects, relationship woes, and the meaning of love and I couldn't have been any more impressed with JGL's first outing in the director's chair. I can't say it looked like my kind of movie in the first place, but being that JGL was the person behind all of its creative aspects I knew I couldn't miss out on this one. So far it's been very well-reviewed by a lot of critics and it is kind of hard for me to say it any better as to why this film is so great. What Don Jon has that most other romantic comedies don't have is the window for a guy to look through, and add in all of the charm and humor of JGL's writing and you've got a hit.

It's so rare in romantic comedies anymore to see a story that applies to men, as much as it does for women. I think that these type of films always tend to cater to the female side of things and it's kind of disappointing because I think no matter who the film skews towards in this genre, it's going to be relatable for women because they love sappy stories. However, my opinion on this is exactly what is turned on its ear in this movie and it really shows how great of a story JGL has written here. This is a romantic comedy, but instead of centering around a charming and cute girl who hasn't found Mr. Right and all of her friends are urging her to meet a nice guy, it's a tough and sex-driven Jersey gym rat played by JGL, and some go as far as calling him The Don. Immediately when the movie starts, you're overloaded with Jon's routine and what it takes to be in his shoes on a daily basis. It can turn you off the movie quickly if you don't have the patience for it or don't expect what's coming, as you see that Jon lives his ritual like a religion and doesn't take it lightly when it's thrown off course.

Jon uses porn more than anything else, and when it comes to his porn, it is very important to him. It's JGL's seemingly casual insight on this subject that draws and has been drawing a lot of eyes to character in the film, as he's not the kind of guy you typically like in these kind of films but JGL paints him with a light brush. It's never too much to where you can't stand the guy, and it's never to little to not forget who he is. He's really obsessed with pornography, and if you can't see it after 15 minutes of the film, you probably are too. It's the subject matter though, and the development and understanding of Don Jon, that really put this film above and beyond others in terms of analyzing the differences between men's view of romance, and women's. It's a sadly realistic and honest portrayal of an exaggerated typical man, which allows the audience to see what JGL is actually trying to point out within his tale. Men and women are two entirely different kinds of people whether a common society wants to believe it or not, and we see things in different ways. Love and sexual relations are just two things that Don Jon focuses on during its runtime, and it is about as endearing as a story about this matter can be.

The acting in the film is incredible, and of course JGL puts in another solid performance as Jon here. Being that this is his first feature film that he's directed, and written as well, I was curious to see how well his acting ability paired with these new talents that he is trying to develop. What I saw was incredible all around tour of the film set by JGL, and does great at all three points of his job here on Don Jon. One thing JGL is better at doing that most anyone else in Hollywood is that he's able to completely transform himself into whatever character he's playing, and really absorb himself into the mentality and style of said character. I don't think it was a question as to whether or not he could play Jon, but he never loses his charm and wit as an actor behind the muscular and cocky Don. The other star of the film is Scarlett Johansson, who is nearly perfect to play alongside JGL in this film. I'm not entirely sold on her as a serious actress yet, but this movie does a pretty good job of showing how great of a caricature she can be. She's pretty much the shell of a woman, what men want to see in a beautiful woman. Scarlett takes Jersey girl dead serious though, and nails the excessive gum chewing and unrealistic expectations of a woman absorbed into romance films herself. Barbara, played by Scarlett Johansson, never quite understands why Jon is attracted to pornography, and it's this misunderstanding that the film's foundation is built upon.

By the end of the film, Julianne Moore has come to play as a disheveled older woman looking for a friend, and seemingly only in Jon. She does a fantastic job at playing the wayward and careless woman in the middle of her midlife crisis, and it's really her involvement in the events of the end of the film that make it so beautiful. Everything that Jon goes through with Esther, Moore's character, really sold me and a lot of audiences on the story of Jon and how he goes from being a man in a movie, to a man of reality. The final scene with Jon and Barbara, for those who weren't following all along, points out the nasty elephant in the room and ousts some people for what they are, and that's being materialistic and unrealistic. It's Scarlett Johansson's stern and hard-headed approach in this scene as Barbara that really drives the point home, and even though she's 100% sure of her life and the way it's run, it's Jon's subtle understanding of the way she is and the way he's learned to be that concludes the movie on such an amazing note. I am a guy here, so I see this movie a little differently than some would, but I think it's one of the most beautiful romantic comedies I've ever seen. It's not the funniest, nor is it the saddest. But it is by far the smartest, most observant, and brutally honest romantic comedy I've seen in years and I couldn't be any more proud of my boy JGL. I've been singing his praises for years that he was going to be a true talent one day, and I've loved him ever since Brick back in 2005 when he began his comeback in the industry. Thank you Mr. Gordon-Levitt, for finally making a romantic comedy that for once guys can understand, and women can learn from, and not the other way around.

ACTING : ( 9 / 10 )

STORY : ( 10 / 10 )

EXECUTION : ( 9 / 10 )

POSTER : ( 6 / 10 )

AWESOME : ( 9 / 10 )

FINAL RATING : ( 9 / 10 )